KZN Senior Amateur Open Championship Results, 8-9th March 2026

The 2026 KZN Senior Amateur Open Championships were held at Mount Edgecombe Country Club “The Woods” over Sunday 8th and Monday 9th of March. The coastal area of Durban experienced quite a bit of rain during the Saturday night before the tournament resulting in MECC making a decision in the morning that the course was too wet to allow ride-on carts to be used on the opening day of the tournament. This would have mostly impacted on all B Division players. Fortunately, those affected opted to walk the course which was wet underfoot, had standing water in places and was obviously playing extremely long. The greens however were receptive and in perfect condition, as is usual for this course, while the day remained overcast but humid.

Clubhouse leaders after day one in the A Division were Lyall McNeill (DCC) on one over par 71 gross followed by Abrie Akerman (Waterkloof), Regan Tearnan (Glendower) and Sean Fenger (DCC), all on 73. Eric Jarvie (Kloof) was an additional shot back on 74. In the B Division it was Hennie Heynes of MECC in front with 38 individual stableford points followed by Mziwakhe Dlamini (Ethekwini) with 37, Ganas Naicker (Umkomaas) with 36 and Kobus Swart (Kloof) with 35.

The course had managed to dry out somewhat during the day and with no additional rain overnight, ride-on carts were permitted on day two of the tournament. There was a ding-dong battle up front with Abrie Akerman and Gordon Wessels, both from Waterkloof, playing steady golf and coming home in 71. Eugene van Loggernberg (Cathedral) was one back on 72, Lyall McNeill (DCC) and Sunill Pillay (East London) on 74 and Keith Forde (DCC) on 75.

The overall result in the A Division after two days of competitive golf was Abrie Akerman (Waterkloof) in first place, winning the KZN Senior Open Trophy and medal on 144 gross (featured photo) with runner-up Lyall McNeill (DCC) (right with Richard Nel) one shot back on 145 gross. Third place went to Eugene van Loggerenberg (Cathedral) on 148 and fourth place went to Sean Fenger (DCC) on 149, counting out Regan Tearnan (Glendower), also on 149. The Best Gross Super Senior prize went to Gordon Wessels (Waterkloof) on 148 with the Best Nett prize going to Steve Cullen (DCC) on 140 nett. 

The B Division players really played good golf under the improved conditions and a great score of 45 individual stableford points by Omprakesh Ramlakhan (MECC) was sufficient to take him through to first place with a total of 74 points, one point ahead of Maziwakhe Dlamini (Ethekwini) (above) on 73 points. Pat Moodley (MECC) added 41 points to his first round 30 points to end in third place with 71 points. Kelvin Ganesan (Eden National) returned 35 points as did Ganas Naicker (PSCC) which saw Ganas Naicker earn the B Division Super Senior prize.

Appreciation must go to the Mt Edgecombe course management and staff for getting the course in excellent condition given the amount of rain they experienced as well as to all out of Province participants who supported our tournaments. Many thanks to our sponsor, the Golfers Club for their continued support as well.